Times Square's Best Pizza Places

You want a slice in Times Square, and honestly, the odds are stacked against you. But over here, past the Elmo scrum and the Broadway rush, a block of Midtown is quietly running the most delicious gauntlet in the city, from Joe’s impossibly crisp cheese standard to Joe G’s molten lasagna that deserves a standing ovation.

We braved them all, including a late-night hero that’ll fix whatever ails you post-theater, so you don’t have to gamble. Consider this your cheat sheet.

Go with a plan.

Paul’s on Times Square

Highlights
Fair Times Square pricing
Cozy, private Hilton refuge
Great pizza and calamari

Paul’s on Times Square is the great escape artist of this whole pizza hunt, a cozy, private Hilton refuge that somehow prices itself like a neighborhood joint rather than a tourist trap. The pizza arrives with a confident, cheesy heft, and the calamari is so good I’d order it even if I weren’t already seated. It’s a strange and wonderful trick. You’re steps from the chaos, yet the room feels hushed, like a secret handshake between you and the kitchen. Compared to the grab-and-go counters nearby, this is a sit-down triumph, a place where the fair prices feel like a dare. Go for the slices, stay for the squid, and laugh at everyone else fighting the crowds outside.

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Little Italy Pizza

Highlights
Quick, tasty, reasonable prices
Wide pizza and drink variety
Classic cheese slice shines
Convenient hours, easy access
Crispy, edible crust always

Little Italy Pizza is the reliable friend who never lets you down, and I mean that in the warmest, teasing way possible. The line moves fast, the staff is quick, and the classic cheese slice is the true star, with a crispy, edible crust that holds its shape even when you’re walking at full Times Square speed. What impressed me most was the sheer variety, from pepperoni to white pies, plus a drink fridge stocked with everything you could crave. The prices are reasonable, the hours are convenient, and the whole experience feels like a cheerful pit stop rather than a production. In the ranking of quick bites, this one wins for consistency. You could do worse. You probably have.

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My Pie Pizzeria Romana

Highlights
Thin-crust Detroit-inspired style
Huge, share-worthy slices
Buffalo pizza with garlicky kick
Airy, crunchy quality crust

My Pie Pizzeria Romana is the wildcard that had me rethinking everything I thought I knew about pizza geometry. Their thin-crust Detroit-inspired style is a glorious contradiction, airy and crunchy at once, with a crust that shatters beautifully under pressure. The slices are huge, genuinely share-worthy, and that Buffalo pizza is a garlicky, tangy kick to the senses that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Compared to the classic foldable slices elsewhere, this is a more architectural endeavor, but it rewards you with texture in every bite. It’s not the cheapest spot, but the quality justifies the splurge. If you’re tired of the same old round, come here. Your jaw will thank you, and so will your taste buds.

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Joe G Restaurant

Highlights
Best lasagna on Earth
Spectacular carbonara and salads
Cozy, genuinely Italian atmosphere
Ideal for private celebrations
Outstanding, attentive service

Joe G Restaurant is the place I’d send my own grandmother, and that’s the highest praise I can offer. The best lasagna on Earth is not an exaggeration; it arrived with a layered, molten richness that made me want to applaud. The carbonara and salads are spectacular too, but the real magic is the atmosphere, cozy and genuinely Italian, like someone’s home that just happens to serve incredible food. The service is outstanding, attentive without hovering, and they handled my party like we were the only table in the room. For private celebrations, this is an ideal pick. Compared to the pizza counters, this is a different beast entirely, but it’s a beast you’ll want to revisit. Bring patience. Bring an appetite.

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Ginger - Ristorante NYC Midtown

Highlights
Family favorite since Rome
Attentive, warm service
Incredible homemade pasta
Fresh fruit, great tiramisu
Anniversary-worthy charm

Ginger, Ristorante NYC Midtown, has that rare quality of feeling both special and familiar, a family favorite since Rome, and I can see why. The homemade pasta is incredible, each strand tasting like it was rolled with love and a little bit of mischief. The tiramisu is great, and the fresh fruit on the side is a thoughtful touch that balances the sweetness. The service is warm and attentive, the kind that remembers your name and your coffee order. For an anniversary or any excuse to dress up, this place has serious charm. In the ranking of romantic Italian spots near Times Square, it sits comfortably near the top. It’s not the fastest meal, but you won’t want it to be. Slow down. Enjoy it.

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Junior's Restaurant and Bakery

Highlights
Legendary cheesecake and cake shakes
Classic American diner atmosphere
Prime Rockefeller Center location
Spectacular challah grilled cheese
Solid comfort food favorites

Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery is a sweet, glorious detour from the pizza quest, though don’t skip their savory side either. The legendary cheesecake is everything they claim, and the cake shakes are a dessert that borders on performance art. But the spectacular challah grilled cheese is the real sleeper hit, golden, buttery, and melting with cheese in a way that made me forget I was supposed to be reviewing pizza. The classic American diner atmosphere is loud in the best way, and the Rockefeller Center location puts you in the middle of the action. The solid comfort food favorites mean you can’t go wrong, but come hungry. This place is a celebration, not a snack. In the rankings, it wins for sheer joyful excess.

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Bravo Pizza (K)

Highlights
Consistently clean, classic, quality pizza
Quick, friendly service during rush
Authentic neighborhood pizza shop atmosphere
Perfectly crisp, airy, charred crust
Fresh, generous, never greasy toppings

Bravo Pizza (K) is the dependable workhorse that makes you wonder why more places don’t just do the simple things perfectly. The pizza is consistently clean and classic, with a perfectly crisp, airy, charred crust that has just the right amount of smoky bite. The toppings are fresh, generous, and never greasy, which is a miracle in this neighborhood. What really sets Bravo apart is the service; even during a frantic rush, the staff stays friendly and quick, moving with a practiced efficiency that feels almost choreographed. It has that authentic neighborhood pizza shop atmosphere, the kind where the guy behind the counter knows the regulars by name. Compared to flashier spots, this is the quiet winner. No drama, just good pizza. That’s enough.

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Z Grill pizzeria

Highlights
Best pizza after midnight
Friendly staff, generous toppings
Affordable slices and sodas
Customizes for allergy needs
Hotel-recommended local favorite

Z Grill pizzeria is the hero of the night owl, hands down, the best pizza after midnight when all else fades into neon blur. The staff is friendly and patient, even when you’re blinking at the menu with half-closed eyes, and they’ll customize your slice to accommodate allergies without a hint of annoyance. The toppings are generous and the slices are affordable, and the sodas won’t break your wallet either. This is the place the hotel front desk recommends, and they’re right to. Compared to the more polished joints, Z Grill feels scrappy and real, a local favorite that doesn’t need to prove anything. In the late-night rankings, it’s the undisputed champ. Go at 1 AM. Thank me later.

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Nino's 46

Highlights
Cozy Midtown Italian spot
Excellent truffle prosciutto pizza
Fresh strawberry burrata starter
Reasonable prices for quality
Lots of vegetarian options

Nino’s 46 is a cozy Midtown Italian spot that punches well above its price point, and the truffle prosciutto pizza is a masterpiece of earthy, salty indulgence. The fresh strawberry burrata starter is a surprising delight, creamy and bright, like a summer picnic in a bowl. What really won me over, though, is the number of vegetarian options, which is rare for a place that clearly loves its meat. The prices are reasonable for the quality, and the atmosphere feels intimate without being stuffy. In the ranking of sit-down Italian experiences, Nino’s lands in the sweet spot, not too fancy, not too casual. The service is warm, the food is memorable, and the pizza crust has a lovely chew. I’d come back just for that burrata. Don’t tell the others.

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John's of Bleecker Street

Highlights
Garlic bread truly exceptional
Pizza among my favorites
Reputation is well deserved

John’s of Bleecker Street has a reputation that proceeds it, and after my visit, I can confirm the hype is earned. The pizza is among my favorites, with a blistered, slightly charred crust that’s both chewy and crisp, and a sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering for generations. But the true revelation was the garlic bread, truly exceptional, buttery, crusty, and loaded with enough garlic to ward off vampires for a week. The atmosphere is classic, brick walls and wood ovens, the kind of place that feels like New York in a way that can’t be manufactured. In the rankings, this is a pilgrimage spot. You’ll wait for a table, but you’ll be glad you did. Bring friends. Share everything.

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Joe's Pizza Broadway

Highlights
Classic cheese slice perfection
Thin crust stays crisp
Fast service, fair prices
Two shops slice or pie
Arrive early to skip queues

Joe’s Pizza Broadway is the gold standard for a classic cheese slice, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. The thin crust stays crisp even after a few minutes of standing on the sidewalk, and the cheese is perfectly melted with a slight tang. The service is fast, the prices are fair, and they have two shops nearby, so you can always find one. The secret is to arrive early and skip the queues; I saw the line get brutal by noon. Compared to the other tourist-friendly spots, Joe’s doesn’t compromise on quality for speed. It’s the slice I’d cross the city for. Simple, honest, and absolutely perfect. In the rankings, it’s the benchmark. Everything else gets measured against this one.

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Little Italy Pizza

Highlights
Crispy crusts, kind service
Fast line, warm slices
Great value near Times Square
Patient staff, quick bites

Little Italy Pizza, the second location on my list, proves that consistency is a virtue, and this spot delivers crispy crusts with kind service every single time. The line moves fast, the slices come out warm, and the staff is patient even when the tourists are fumbling for cash. It’s a great value near Times Square, which is a sentence I never thought I’d write, but here we are. Compared to the other Little Italy branch, this one feels slightly more streamlined, but the quality holds steady. The quick bites here are perfect for a lunch break or a late afternoon pick-me-up. No frills, no fuss, just honest pizza that respects your time and your wallet. In my rankings, it’s a solid mid-tier contender. Reliable. Cheerful. Done.

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